the debt ceiling if it is not part of any agreement, regarding the fiscal cliff to avert the fiscal cliff they will need to take up this question of raising the debt ceiling come likely early next year. republicans see that the question of raising the debt creeling is where they have leverage in this negotiation. the president and democrats do not want the debt ceiling to be kind of -- raising the debt ceiling to be part of this negotiation. they do not want this on their plate come early next year. it all comes down to leverage. democrats see that they have the leverage here because look at most recent polls today. if you look at this week, if you look at recent polls out this week, it shows that a majority of americans say if there is no deal, if we go over the fiscal cliff, they will blame republicans and not democrats or the president. you can be sure everyone is watching those polls. the debt ceiling if you can believe it, i know christine is rolling her eyes over there, the debt ceiling is becoming a part of this. >> that dialogue has been going on for quite some time now. at the en